Training Requests

• All training requests must be made through FOM
• A person must register for a FOM account before making the training request

Billing Policy:

1. Early Cancellation: Cancel at least 30 minutes before the reserved start time to avoid a $34 late cancellation fee. Cancellations made less than 30 minutes before the start time will be charged the fee.
2. Minimum Billing: Minimum billing is 15 minutes. If you use the equipment for less than 15 minutes (e.g., 4 minutes), you will be charged for 15 minutes. If you use it for 15 minutes, you will be charged for 15 minutes.
3. Bill Start and End Times: You will be billed from the earlier of the reservation start time or actual start time to the later of the reservation end time or actual end time. For example, if you reserve the SPR from 12–3 p.m. but use it from 11:55 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., you will be charged from 11:55 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This policy encourages judicious booking so availability more accurately reflects actual usage.
4. No shows:
   • Training: If you do not attend your scheduled training, you will be charged for the full reserved training time. Arriving more than 10 minutes late without contacting the trainer counts as a no-show.
   • Equipment use: If you do not show up for your reservation, you will be charged for 60 minutes.
5. Failure to Log Off:
   • You will be billed for the full time you are logged in, so please log off when you finish. The screen should be off/black when you leave.
   • Nanotechnicum instruments: Automatically set up to log off 60 minutes after the calendar booking ends.
   • DSC, TGA, NanoDSC, SPR, and porosimeter: Do not automatically log off. FOM will continue logging and billing until you log off. If an automated run will end when you cannot log off (e.g., overnight), email [email protected].
   • Logging off the computer is not equal to logging off FOM. You will be billed for the entire time you are logged into FOM.
6. Tampering with the FOM System: Bypassing the system without permission from BI staff will result in an additional 8 hour usage charge.
7. Instrument Specific Billing Policy
   • Porosimeter users will need to schedule two times, one for preparation through starting low pressure run and a second for end low pressure through end of experiment including clean up time
   • CD users will be billed for the entire time the tank is open,  if you fail to shut off the liquid nitrogen tank at the normal usage rate.

Data Policy

• Nanotechnicum users are responsible for taking their data off the computer.
• The Nanotechnicum does not back up data.

Hours of Operation

• Staffed hours of operation are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday.

Safety & Compliance:

• You must wear required PPE and follow U-M EHS and facility-specific safety procedures for the materials and processes used.
• You are responsible for ensuring your work is appropriate for the space (e.g., compatible chemicals, safe operating procedures) and have completed all required training before using the equipment. Unsafe conditions or noncompliance may result in immediate stop-work, loss of access, and/or additional charges if staff time is required to remediate.

Setup and Cleanup:

• The instrument/work area must be left clean and in the default/ready state (e.g., logged off, accessories returned, settings reset as required).
• All waste must be disposed of properly (chemical, sharps, broken glass, contaminated wipes, etc.) using designated containers.
• No unlabeled or unknown waste may be left behind.
• If staff must clean, reset, or dispose of materials due to user omission, cleanup labor and any disposal costs may be billed and/or access may be suspended.

Maintenance & Downtime:

• Planned maintenance and unplanned outages will be communicated via email and/or the reservation system (and posted signage when applicable).
• During downtime, reservations may be canceled or rescheduled.
• Rebooking is first-come, first-served unless a research-critical exception is approved.
• Typically, no usage charges will be billed when an instrument is confirmed down. However, staff-assisted time may be billed at the training rate if the instrument is operational and the issue is user-caused.
• BI covers costs associated with typical wear from normal use. If damage or contamination results from misuse, negligence, or use of unapproved or inappropriate chemicals/materials, procedures, or parameters, the user is responsible for associated costs, including repairs, replacement parts, service calls, and staff time.

After-Hours Use:

•  The Nanotechnicum is open 24/7 if you have the appropriate NCRC access, but BI staff is only available to assist 8-5 Monday-Friday.

Guest/Visitor Policy:

• Guests/visitors are permitted, and they must be escorted at all times.
• Guests may not operate equipment unless trained and authorized.
• Photography and/or video is allowed with permission, however, there will be no recording of sensitive setups, screens, or other users’ work.
• Guests are required to wear the appropriate PPE.
• Guests must be at least 18 years old.

Payment / Chargeback Disputes:

• Disputes must be submitted within 30 days with required details (e.g., instrument, date/time, reservation time, issue). Email [email protected].

Guidelines for Publications and Acknowledgments

• In the methods section:
  “University of Michigan Biointerfaces Institute Nanotechnicum Core Facility (RRID:SCR_026717)” or at minimum “RRID:SCR_026717”
• In the acknowledgement section:
  “The authors acknowledge the financial support of the University of Michigan College of Engineering, the College of Pharmacy, Dental School, and the Medical School, and the Biointerfaces Institute for the use of the instruments and staff assistance.”
• Please put acknowledgements in both sections